2016 NASCAR thread

[CAA Flagship]

It's time to bring back North Wilksboro and Rockingham.

[93henfan]

It's time to bring back North Wilksboro and Rockingham.

Never going to happen when those tracks were purchased by the conglomerates specifically to close and give their races to new tracks built by the conglomerates.

[CAA Flagship]

It's time to bring back North Wilksboro and Rockingham.

Never going to happen when those tracks were purchased by the conglomerates specifically to close and give their races to new tracks built by the conglomerates.

Meh. A little Roundup and they can drop the green flag.

[93henfan]

Never going to happen when those tracks were purchased by the conglomerates specifically to close and give their races to new tracks built by the conglomerates.

Meh. A little Roundup and they can drop the green flag.

Do a YouTube search for North Wilkesboro drone. I may have already posted it here. It's sad but also nostalgic seeing a track frozen in the golden age of NASCAR. Reminds me so much of all the NASCAR road trips I did as a kid.

[BDKJMU]

It's been an increasing theme for 8 years now, but wow is the attendance terrible at Indy today. I know it's hot, but this is likely Jeff Gordon's and Tony Stewart's last races (both Indiana guys) and there is what looks to be around 15% of capacity watching. The bottom half of the stands are empty at the start finish line and that is with entire sections of the turns blocked off with advertising tarps.

Here's an in-race shot of the stands near start/finish. You'd think these would be primo spots in the shade. And the whole track looks like that:



Here is a turn section that is open:

Yeah, another record low attendance for a NASCAR track.. Looked pathetic. Granted Indy seats something like a ginormous 257k. Don't know how many tickets they 'sold' but it looked like peak 40k-50k butts in seats. Despite it being hot as balls (93, heat index 107) and the NASCAR racing there usually being boring, I also thought that it being Tony's last race and Gordon coming back it would have been much better attendance.

[clenz]

Top 20 for Landon

[BDKJMU]

Kyle Busch ridiculously dominant. 2nd most dominant performance we've seen this season outside of Truex at Charlotte in Coke 600.

I thought with Gordon:
-Not having driven in 8 months.
-Only 2 races in the lower downforce package (at Kentucky & Darlington last year) and last year Indy having run the polar opposite increased downforce/high drag package).
-Hendrick Motorsports clearly slumping behind JGR, Penske, and Stewart Haas.
That realistically best could reasonably expect was Top 10. Gordon got 13th, would have been top 10 if his restarts didn't suck so bad. He admitted postrace interview multiple times he was terrible on restarts

Stewart 11th, could have easily been top 10, maybe top 5, without pit road speeding penalty...Course on the other hand if he was further forward could have been wreck near the end..

Was cool to see this at the end. Stewart interviewed post race said he asked his spotter to go get the 88 spotter to tell Jeff to do the lap with him..
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YJeW0PEqSg[/youtube]

[89Hen]

He admitted postrace interview multiple times he was terrible on restarts

That's nothing new. He's always sucked on restarts.

[93henfan]

He admitted postrace interview multiple times he was terrible on restarts

That's nothing new. He's always sucked on restarts.

As does Jr. I wonder if Ky Busch uses a different 2nd gear than the Hendrick cars?

The only person out there that remotely hung with 18 on a restart was Logano on the second to last restart. That would support youth and reflexes as being the answer, rather than gearing.

The leader is always at a huge advantage under the start zone concept that NASCAR has moved to. Another unnecessary step made by the geniuses in Daytona.

[93henfan]

...In two days, no one ever passed the Toyotas Busch was piloting. He led every available lap—the format included two heat races, only one of which Busch was in—on Saturday and all except when he was pitting or the race was under caution on Sunday...

...The fans must have sensed the racing was going to be amiss. The Indianapolis Star estimated the crowd at 50,000. When NASCAR began racing at the world's most recognizable track in 1994, the race allegedly drew seven times that many...

I guess I nailed it when I eyeballed 15% yesterday.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/26 ... =editorial

[89Hen]

It's been an increasing theme for 8 years now, but wow is the attendance terrible at Indy today. I know it's hot, but this is likely Jeff Gordon's and Tony Stewart's last races (both Indiana guys) and there is what looks to be around 15% of capacity watching. The bottom half of the stands are empty at the start finish line and that is with entire sections of the turns blocked off with advertising tarps.

Nothing to worry about. Right?

[93henfan]

It's been an increasing theme for 8 years now, but wow is the attendance terrible at Indy today. I know it's hot, but this is likely Jeff Gordon's and Tony Stewart's last races (both Indiana guys) and there is what looks to be around 15% of capacity watching. The bottom half of the stands are empty at the start finish line and that is with entire sections of the turns blocked off with advertising tarps.

Nothing to worry about. Right?

It will be if Fox and NBC pull out. That's who pays the purses.

Current TV package pays NASCAR $8.2B through 2024.

[93henfan]

But yes, 89, it is worrisome for the sport when 2024 gets here. The trends right now are very bad. They need to get it turned around. NASCAR went from the fastest growing sport in 2005 according to Forbes to likely the fastest declining sport since 2008.

We have this discussion every year, so I won't go on and on. If I was king, I'd immediately reopen N Wilkesboro and Rockingham. NASCAR needs to kiss southern ass stat! Try to recapture the base. I'd work to reduce the number of races at 1.5 mile Charlotte clone tracks and encourage the addition of short track races, preferably in ACC/SEC territory. I'd have one west coast swing. Knock out Phoenix, Vegas, Fontana, and Sonoma right after the Daytona 500 and then don't go west of Texas the rest of the season. Do away with the chase. Aaaaand assassinate Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs.

Here's a very good recent article that touches on a lot:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/na ... /86573130/

[BDKJMU]

...In two days, no one ever passed the Toyotas Busch was piloting. He led every available lap—the format included two heat races, only one of which Busch was in—on Saturday and all except when he was pitting or the race was under caution on Sunday...

...The fans must have sensed the racing was going to be amiss. The Indianapolis Star estimated the crowd at 50,000. When NASCAR began racing at the world's most recognizable track in 1994, the race allegedly drew seven times that many...

I guess I nailed it when I eyeballed 15% yesterday.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/26 ... =editorial

Close. 50k of 257k would be about 19%..

Like I said, I figured 40-50k....

Pathetic...

[BDKJMU]

But yes, 89, it is worrisome for the sport when 2024 gets here. The trends right now are very bad. They need to get it turned around. NASCAR went from the fastest growing sport in 2005 according to Forbes to likely the fastest declining sport since 2008.

We have this discussion every year, so I won't go on and on. If I was king, I'd immediately reopen N Wilkesboro and Rockingham. NASCAR needs to kiss southern ass stat! Try to recapture the base. I'd work to reduce the number of races at 1.5 mile Charlotte clone tracks and encourage the addition of short track races, preferably in ACC/SEC territory. I'd have one west coast swing. Knock out Phoenix, Vegas, Fontana, and Sonoma right after the Daytona 500 and then don't go west of Texas the rest of the season. Do away with the chase. Aaaaand assassinate Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs.

Here's a very good recent article that touches on a lot:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/na ... /86573130/

Quit coming out against the Confederate flags. Dumb move by NASCAR to alienate such a large part of their fan base that comes/use to come to races.

Yep. I know we beat this horse every year. NASCAR tracks opened 95'-01':
95' 1.5 mile Homestead
96' 1.5 mile Vegas
97' 2.0 mile Autoclub (CA)
97' 1.5 mile Texas (2 races)
00' 1.5 mile Kentucky
01' 1.5 mile Chicagoland
01' 1.5 mile Kansas (2 races)

I'd start with taking one of the Kansas races and give it to a short tracks. Kansas is an ISC track (basically NASCAR). One possibility would be give it to .75 mi RIR clone Iowa (basically owned by NASCAR)..

Like has laready been said. Bring back Rockingham & N Wilkesboro. Darlington or Atlanta could be given 2nd dates.

[93henfan]

I guess I nailed it when I eyeballed 15% yesterday.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/26 ... =editorial

Close. 50k of 257k would be about 19%..

Like I said, I figured 40-50k....

Pathetic...

Indy holds WAY more than 257K. Closer to 400K. Hence, why the article say that only 1/7 (14.3%) of the track was filled.

[93henfan]

But yes, 89, it is worrisome for the sport when 2024 gets here. The trends right now are very bad. They need to get it turned around. NASCAR went from the fastest growing sport in 2005 according to Forbes to likely the fastest declining sport since 2008.

We have this discussion every year, so I won't go on and on. If I was king, I'd immediately reopen N Wilkesboro and Rockingham. NASCAR needs to kiss southern ass stat! Try to recapture the base. I'd work to reduce the number of races at 1.5 mile Charlotte clone tracks and encourage the addition of short track races, preferably in ACC/SEC territory. I'd have one west coast swing. Knock out Phoenix, Vegas, Fontana, and Sonoma right after the Daytona 500 and then don't go west of Texas the rest of the season. Do away with the chase. Aaaaand assassinate Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs.

Here's a very good recent article that touches on a lot:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/na ... /86573130/

Quit coming out against the Confederate flags. Dumb move by NASCAR to alienate such a large part of their fan base that comes/use to come to races.

Yep. I know we beat this horse every year. NASCAR tracks opened 95'-01':
95' 1.5 mile Homestead
96' 1.5 mile Vegas
97' 2.0 mile Autoclub (CA)
97' 1.5 mile Texas (2 races)
00' 1.5 mile Kentucky
01' 1.5 mile Chicagoland
01' 1.5 mile Kansas (2 races)

I'd start with taking one of the Kansas races and give it to a short tracks. Kansas is an ISC track (basically NASCAR). One possibility would be give it to .75 mi RIR clone Iowa (basically owned by NASCAR)..

Like has laready been said. Bring back Rockingham & N Wilkesboro. Darlington or Atlanta could be given 2nd dates.

Agree on all. I wonder how long before Dover or Pocono lose a race to a conglomerate track. I don't know why NASCAR has been so kind to both in this era of sagging attendance.

[clenz]

Give Iowa a race and it will be full every time. Even if it's a no one gives a damn race in May or June.

BDK likes to say it isn't big enough, but I think it's clear 99% of tracks are too big. Add maybe 10k seats and call it good

Hell pair it with the IMCA Nationals in Boone (not too far away and draws tend to a hundred of thousands of fans from around the country) and you'd really have something. Only issue is that's a September thing.







The drivers seem to love the track. Make it a play on being small...small track, small stands, small population in the state. Make it the biggest small thing around. Yeah, it's technically longer than Bristol, Richmond and Martinsville. So what?
There are three or four full time NASCAR drivers from Iowa, all from within an hour or so of Iowa Speedway. If you think people wouldn't show up you're wrong


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BDKJMU]

Close. 50k of 257k would be about 19%..

Like I said, I figured 40-50k....

Pathetic...

Indy holds WAY more than 257K. Closer to 400K. Hence, why the article say that only 1/7 (14.3%) of the track was filled.

I looked this up back when I went to the 2013 Brickyard 400. Indianapolis Star newpaper in 2004 did a study where they literally counted every seat. 257,325
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/m ... ount_x.htm

[93henfan]

Indy holds WAY more than 257K. Closer to 400K. Hence, why the article say that only 1/7 (14.3%) of the track was filled.

I looked this up back when I went to the 2013 Brickyard 400. Indianapolis Star newpaper in 2004 did a study where they literally counted every seat. 257,325
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/m ... ount_x.htm

Then how did they get 400,000 at the Indy 500 this year?

EDIT: Just read multiple articles. It was 350,000.

[BDKJMU]

I looked this up back when I went to the 2013 Brickyard 400. Indianapolis Star newpaper in 2004 did a study where they literally counted every seat. 257,325
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/m ... ount_x.htm

Then how did they get 400,000 at the Indy 500 this year?

EDIT: Just read multiple articles. It was 350,000.

Inflated estimates? Including standing room only?

".....Estimates had been left to journalists, many of whom have admitted to being influenced by the vastness of the Speedway and the enthusiasm surrounding the 500. Some have guessed as many as 500,000 fans on race day.

By 1990, the crowd estimate distributed worldwide by The Associated Press was 400,000. In recent years, as Speedway officials have removed infield grandstands to accommodate the 2.6-mile road course, The Star lowered its estimate to 300,000.

"If you had to drive through all that (pre-race traffic congestion), it's not hard to believe they had that many people," said Gary Long, a Lafayette, Ind., native who has attended 46 500s, including 22 as the motor sports reporter for the Miami Herald. "I've ridiculously guessed too much just like everyone else, but I was never out of the mainstream."

Steve Herman has covered the 500 for most of his 34 years with AP's Indianapolis bureau. He can't remember the history behind the climbing crowd estimates, but he admits it has always been a crapshoot.

"Someone would pull a number out of the air — like 400,000 — and that seemed to be good," he said. "(Speedway officials) admit to 250,000 seats, and after that it's just a guess with all the people standing in the grass, or whatever."......."

This article is 12 years old...

[clenz]

NBCSN’s Brickyard coverage averaged 5.2 million viewers with a 3.1 HH rating; the networks most-watched highest-rated telecast on record

[tribe_pride]

NBCSN’s Brickyard coverage averaged 5.2 million viewers with a 3.1 HH rating; the networks most-watched highest-rated telecast on record

It was so hot outside that nobody wanted to be outside so they stayed at home to watch NASCAR?

[clenz]

NBCSN’s Brickyard coverage averaged 5.2 million viewers with a 3.1 HH rating; the networks most-watched highest-rated telecast on record

It was so hot outside that nobody wanted to be outside so they stayed at home to watch NASCAR?

TV ratings for NASCAR are as strong/stronger than ever.

I think the "experience" of being at the track is starting to wear off of people. Cost to go, heat, TV etc...

[tribe_pride]

It was so hot outside that nobody wanted to be outside so they stayed at home to watch NASCAR?

TV ratings for NASCAR are as strong/stronger than ever.

I think the "experience" of being at the track is starting to wear off of people. Cost to go, heat, TV etc...

TV experience is actually better now for a lot of sports. Baseball is one of the major exceptions as many go more for the atmosphere than just sitting down to watch a game.